X-Men '92: House of XCII #2
- Writer
- Steve Foxe
- Artist
- Salva Espin
- Letterer
- VC's Joe Sabino
- Cover Artist
- David Baldeon, Israel Silva
- Publisher
- Marvel
- Price
- $3.99
- Release Date
- 2022-06-01
- Colorist
- Israel Silva
By now, the X-Men's utopian island, Krakoa, is as baked into the X-Men Universe as Wolverine's claws or Cyclops' sunglasses. It's the culmination of Charles Xavier's dreams and hard work, a place where mutants can live together without having to fear the outside world. In X-Men '92: House of XCII #2, author Steve Foxe, artist Salva Espin, colorist Israel Silva, and letterer Joe Sabino take a stab at cutting their own slice of history from the Children of the Atom's latest era, but with a delectable '90s twist.
The story picks up following the events of the first issue that introduced a world where Krakoa came to fruition in the X-Men: The Animated Series timeline. X-Men '92: House of XCII #2 reveals that Jubilee has been pivotal to the overall concept of resurrection in Krakoa, elevating her character to a more serious role than fans might expect. But her former teammates still don't know that she's alive. The story examines how well the mutants work together to build this sovereign nation -- for example, there's a nice moment between Mister Sinister and Beast as they acknowledge each other's impressive intellects. Unfortunately, Henry Peter Gyrich doesn't share the X-Men's favorable view of the mutant paradise, and he sends his pesky Sentinels to stir up trouble.
As compelling and innovative as Jonathan Hickman's work on the development of Krakoa has been, Foxe streamlines the complex continuity and makes the concept as digestible as it's ever been in X-Men '92: House of XCII. He distills years of recent history into two issues so that the audience can forego the laborious process of parsing through the complicated, ever-changing history of the Marvel Universe. The simplicity of the storytelling makes all the difference here. For the first time in a long while, the whole notion of Krakoa feels accessible, even to the most casual reader.
Espin's art shines with a modern update to the design of the classic animated series. All the characters are still wearing their iconic costumes and sporting their fashionable '90s looks, being instantly recognizable from afar, including the often-hidden fan-favorite mutant, Maverick. Like Espin, Silva brings a wider color palette to X-Men '92: House of XCII #2 than the original cartoon. This change-up allows for more variation in the tones and shades of the characters and backgrounds that elevate the art and add a more dynamic feel to the environment.
Sabino deserves a special mention for the lettering done on the fake '90s-styled ad for a mixtape called Inner Circle Jams Vol. 1, which lists all the X-Men's favorite songs. Sabino and designer Jay Bowen go above and beyond to produce this fun artifact that feels torn out of a '90s fanzine. The fact that Mister Sinister scratched out Radiohead's "Creep" and replaced it with Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" is a moment of perfection that deserves its own category at the Eisners.
At this point, most X-Men readers are either fans of Krakoa or can't wait until the next inevitable reboot. Luckily for everyone, rather than conflate or add to the confusion of the main series, X-Men '92: House of XCII #2 unpacks the inherent value a place like Krakoa has to offer to all mutants. Combine the narrative efficiency with the unmistakable charm of the original animated series, and suddenly there's an X-Men book that feels true to its roots. It's amazing how even a minor shift in perspective can help to clarify Marvel's complicated continuity.
